Steamboat Briefs for April 1

Oak Creek Town Board member Steve "Spike" Beven was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Beven is running for re-election in today's Oak Creek municipal elections.

Oak Creek Police Chief Russ Caterinicchio said Beven was pulled over for speeding on Colorado Highway 131 at about 11 p.m. Saturday. Beven was clocked on radar going 36 mph in a 20 mph zone, Caterinicchio said. Beven stopped about a mile and a half down the road from where officers first tried to make contact and showed signs of intoxication, Caterinicchio said.

"He did poorly on standard field sobriety testing, and based on that he was arrested for DUI," Caterinicchio said. Beven refused a Breathalyzer, was arrested and had his driver's license revoked. Sgt. Erik Foster was the arresting officer.

Beven was booked in Routt County Jail at 12:45 a.m. Sunday and was released about 4 a.m. on a $750 cash bail, which he paid himself. He is scheduled to appear in Routt County Court at 8:30 a.m. May 20.

Beven was arrested in October 2007 for an outstanding traffic warrant issued for not having insurance on a car Routt County Sgt. Miles DeYoung said "had been left abandoned in the middle of the road" on Nancy Crawford Boulevard in Oak Creek, where Beven lives.

Beven was elected to the Oak Creek Town Board in 2004. He does not have a working phone and could not be reached for comment Monday.

Tread of Pioneers Museum closed April 6 to 21

Tread of Pioneers Museum will be closed from April 6 to 21. The museum will reopen at 11 a.m. April 22. Call 879-2214 if you need to meet with a staff member.

Energy assistance available through LEAP

The Routt County Department of Human Services is accepting applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP, through April 30, 2008. LEAP is a federally funded program designed to help low-income households meet their winter home heating costs; it does not pay the entire cost of home heating.

Household income may not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The maximum monthly income for a one-person household is $1,574. Applications can be picked up at the Human Services office, 135 Sixth St. in downtown Steamboat Springs. For information, call Ruth Ann at 879-1540, or 1 (866) 432-8435.

There is no section of 131 near OC with a 20 mph speed limit. But 36 mph would be above the 25 mph for 131 through OC.

Spike might have had a reason to not take the breathalazer because Sergeant Erik, in a letter to the Town Board explaining his actions in another case, said that there were problems with OC's breathalayzer.

Hopefully, Erik's personal video camera was working. The cameras were purchased for just this reason - so that the officers that are not trusted by many in the community, can show they acted properly.

I am not saying that Spike is being framed or anything like that, but if there are irregularities in the arrest then there is a good portion of the population that will not give the police the benefit of the doubt. Part of that is those that there was a period of time in which OC police told hitchhikers and people picking up hitchhikers that they could not hitchhike in OC, which was completely false (state says it is legal) and yet there still has been no public apology or explanation. Or even private apology to several of those told to walk into the canyon past town limits before hitchhiking.

If Wall and his girlfriend that also admitted that she was intoxicated were given a ride home in a county vehicle why was Bevin not allowed the same priviledge?
Let us see if our DA handles these cases differently. If she does not, we should demand an explanation.
I do not tolerate a drunk driver. However; do not be quick to judge Bevin for his alledged actions because he is not yet proven guilty ------- he is only "ACCUSED" by the one that was the target of many accusations just a few weeks ago.

Sorry but if he didn't trust the breathalyser he could have requested a blood test, instead he refused just like Wall. And, like Wall, if he was sober he lost the chance to prove it. Take Wall's example and get a lawyer so the police bashing can begin, again.

justice, "he is only "ACCUSED" by the one that was the target of many accusations just a few weeks ago" is a pretty lame statement considering Beven had a chance to prove his innocence and refused.

justathought
Thanks for your comment. I was only speaking of fairness and equal treatment under the law. Was Mr Bevin offered a blood test? If so and he refused, he should be held to the same standards as everyone else. If he stated his concerns about the breathalyser being accurate and was not offered a blood test he has a great defence.
Also, is the officer certified to administer the breathalyser test?
We have only a part of the story and we should not be hasty to judge.